In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Tu-95MS strategic bombers flew for about nine hours, escorted by SU-30SM fighters, according to Reuters. The Russian Defense Ministry added that the Russian planes flew over the Bering and Chukchi Seas.
"The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international regulations on the use of airspace," said Commander of the Russian Long-Range Aviation, Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash, adding that pilots of the force regularly fly over international waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black Sea and Pacific Ocean.
The Tu-95 is considered a rival to the US B-52 bomber.
Tu-95MS strategic bomber
The Russian Defense Ministry made the statement hours after the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it had detected four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
President Putin visits a place just 80 km from the US
"The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace," NORAD said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 restored the Soviet-era practice of sending strategic bombers on regular patrols outside Russia's borders.
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